Mendip

Mendip's population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and work life.

The population reached nearly 110,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Mendip increased by 5.2%, from almost 104,000 to 109,000.

The addition of about 5,400 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Mendip was home to, on average, 1.1 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Mendip

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Mendip increased by three years, from 40 to 43 years.

This agricultural area had a slightly higher average age than the South West and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 4,100 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 4,000.

About 13% of people in Mendip are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Mendip by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

Mendip saw the South West's second-largest rise in the proportion of self-employed people.

In 2011, just under one in seven (14%) people aged 16 to 74 in Mendip said they were self-employed, compared with 12% in 2001. The percentage that were employed remained close to 52%.

Across the region, only South Hams saw a greater rise in the proportion of self-employed people (from 15% to 17%).

During this period, Mendip overtook East Devon to become the South West local authority area with the eighth-highest percentage of self-employed people.

The rate of self-employment was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Mendip

The percentage of Mendip residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.6% to 3.4% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.1%, while the percentage of Mendip residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 3.0% in 2001 to 3.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Mendip

The number of people in Mendip that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 17,000 in 2001 to about 30,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 16% to 27% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the South West (from 17% to 30%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Mendip that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 77,000 in 2001 to just under 68,000 in 2011 (from 75% to 62%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 8,400 to about 9,500 (from 8.1% to 8.7%).

Just over 1,200 people (0.7%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from about 690 in 2001 (1.1%).

The population without a religion in Mendip increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Mendip by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Mendip that rented privately increased from 10% to 15% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 12%, while the percentage of Mendip households that owned their home decreased from 74% to 70%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 11% in 2001 to 17% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Mendip increased by 5.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Mendip, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

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